Student Projects
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2021–2022 Student Projects Director’s Welcome By all measures, QIMR Berghofer is one of the leading medical research institutes in Australia. Our mission is to deliver ‘better health through medical research’, and we do that by developing new diagnostics, better treatments and more effective strategies to prevent disease. Research at the Institute is channelled through 4 This booklet gives an insight to the world that awaits clinically relevant programs, specifically in the areas of you at QIMR Berghofer. The projects presented within Cancer, Infectious Diseases, Mental Health and Chronic this booklet can often be adapted to suit your particular Disorders. The Institute is home to more than 700 staff skills and strengths, so I encourage you to talk to the and students who consistently generate formidable, Faculty members about any projects that take your high-quality research. Each year, our work gives rise to interest and find one that works for you. Lastly, I always more than 700 publications, around 40,000 citations, advise prospective students to ‘shop around’. You are and more than $10 million in commercial income. making a big decision, so you want to be sure that you are enthusiastic and inspired by the project you end up As a student at QIMR Berghofer, you will be joining an pursuing. elite cohort of exceptionally talented young scientists from around the globe. You will work alongside leading I hope you choose QIMR Berghofer as your next home investigators in state-of-the-art laboratories. You will and, if so, I look forward to welcoming you to this attend seminars showcasing the latest research findings, Institute for the next step in your academic career. and you will be encouraged to ask questions and help find answers to some of the world’s most pressing problems. While here, you will be well supported by a professional team who will help you to navigate your chosen academic path. In addition, you will receive mentoring advice and acquire the skills you need to pursue research to the highest levels of integrity and Professor Fabienne Mackay, Director and CEO, scholarship. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute QIMR Berghofer 2021 – 2022 Student Projects 3 Table of Contents Directors Welcome Message 3 Investigating clinical practice relating to support for family carers of people with pancreatic cancer 18 Contents Page 4 Supportive care needs of carers of people Quick facts about QIMR Berghofer 7 with pancreatic cancer 18 QIMR Berghofer Student Committee 8 Molecular Cancer Epidemiology Group 18 Why study at QIMR Berghofer? 8 Evaluation of variants in known or QIMR Berghofer Services 9 candidate high-risk cancer genes 18 Histology Facility 9 Screening of genetically identified compounds Sample Processing 9 for endometrial cancer therapy 19 Flow Cytometry and Microscopy 9 Identifying the regulatory targets of common endometrial cancer risk variants 19 DNA Sequencing 9 Genetic Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer 20 Analytical Services 9 Functional Cancer Genomics and Genome Informatics 9 Functional Genetics Group 21 QIMR Berghofer Facilities 10 Identifying new long-noncoding RNAs QIMR Berghofer Statistics Unit 10 involved in Breast Cancer development 21 Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics 10 Identification and evaluation of new melanoma risk genes 22 GenomiQa 10 Cancer Genetics Group 22 Medical Research Opportunities 11 Identifying the casual genes at cancer risk loci 23 Quick admissions guide for students 12 Oncogenomics Group 23 CANCER PROGRAM 13 Investigating SF3B1 in DNA damage response and sensitivity to PARP inhibitors 24 Cancer Control Group 14 Clinical Genomics Group 24 QSKIN: the burden of skin cancer 14 Exploring the mutational basis for Cancer Aetiology and Prevention Group 15 cancer-specific isoform expression 25 The D-Health Trial 15 Cancer Precision Medicine Group 25 Balancing the risks and benefits of sun Micropeptides produced by cancer cells exposure 15 and their role in tumorigenesis 25 Reducing diagnostic delay in patients with Plasma protein biomarkers to predict pancreatic cancer 15 immunotherapy response in lung cancers 26 Health Economics Group 16 Novel approaches to augment immunotherapy response in cancers 26 The risks and benefits of sun exposure: striking the right balance 16 Medical Genomics Group 27 Financial distress after cancer – developing Long read sequencing to extend genomic and testing a new survey 16 characterisation of cancer 27 Gynaecological Cancers Group 17 Regulation of DNA damage repair in cancers with defective homologous recombination pathway 28 Ovarian cancer – lifestyle, survival and quality of life 17 Complex neoantigen prediction in cancers 28 4 QIMR Berghofer 2021 – 2022 Student Projects Immune Targeting Blood Cancers Group 29 Drug Discovery Group 39 Targeting immuno-oncology molecules Investigating the anti-cancer activity of the in blood cancers 29 Epoxytigliane family 40 Translational Cancer Immunotherapy Group 29 Epigenetics and Disease Group 40 CAR T cells - redirecting T cells for Determining the therapeutic efficacy of cancer immunotherapy 30 epigenetic drugs in ovarian cancer 40 Gordon and Jessie Gilmour Leukaemia Combining epigenetic drugs with Research Group 30 immunotherapy in melanoma 41 Characterising biomarkers of resistance and Conjoint Gastroenterology Group 42 response to standard and novel therapies in Colorectal Cancer – from Genetics to Acute Myeloid Leukaemia 31 Chemoprevention 42 Antigen Presentation and Immunoregulation 31 Genetic changes underlying colorectal The role of IL-17 signalling in monocytes and cancer initiation and progression 42 macrophages in promoting cGVHD 32 Translational Cancer Discovery Group 43 Characterization of the effects of cGVHD on Enhancing the efficacy of conventional microglial function and the impact on immunotherapies 43 neurogenesis and cognitive function. 32 Development of new bi-functional antibodies Immunopathology Group 33 for the treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Modulating donor T cell polarisation after Carcinoma (HNSCC) 44 bone marrow transplantation to prevent Role for specialised lymph node cells in cancer graft-versus-host disease 33 immunity 44 Characterising miRNA expression after bone marrow transplantation to develop novel therapeutics 33 INFECTIOUS DISEASES Boosting immune checkpoint regulation to prevent/ PROGRAM 45 limit GVHD after allotransplantation 34 Molecular Parasitology Group 46 Inflammation Biology Group 34 Establishment of a CRISPR-Case9-mediated Sorting out the granzyme A and Nnt mess 34 gene knock-down system in Schistosoma japonicum targeting the acetylcholinesterase gene 46 Testing new interventions against SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 using mouse models 35 Development of new interventions including vaccines, DNA diagnostics and serological Translational and Human Immunology Group 35 markers essential for ending neglected tropical diseases caused by schistosomes and COVID-19 immunity – Identifying memory intestinal worms in Asia and Africa 46 T cell protection against SARS-CoV-2 35 New interventions to end neglected Tumour Immunology Group 36 tropical diseases in Asia 47 Adoptive T-cell therapy for HPV associated Immunology and Infection Group 47 cancers 36 Discovering novel immunoregulatory molecules Improving the efficacy of T-cell therapy in vivo 37 that can be manipulated for clinical advantage 47 Cellular immunotherapy – engineering “custom built” cells to treat cancer 38 Human Malaria Immunology Group 48 Single cell genomic technologies in human malaria immunology 48 QIMR Berghofer 2021 – 2022 Student Projects 5 CHRONIC DISORDERS MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM 49 PROGRAM 57 Hepatic Fibrosis Group 50 Psychiatric Genetics Group 58 Assessing the role of extracellular vesicles in the Assessing the cost and impact of Attention progression and development of drug resistance Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Australia 58 in prostate cancer 50 The role of genomics in understanding MicroRNAs as ant-fibrotic agents to treat liver psychiatric and neurological disease 58 scarring, fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic liver Health and wellbeing in people with bipolar disease 50 disorder 58 Anti-inflammatory small molecule inhibitor Identifying risk factors for problematic internet development to control liver inflammation use and video gaming in Australian adults 59 associated with hepatic fibrosis in chronic liver disease 50 Brain Modelling Group 59 Iron Metabolism Group and Modelling brain dynamics across the lifespan 59 Molecular Nutrition Group 51 Novel methods for monitoring brain activity Developing improved methods for assessing in preterm babies 60 iron status 52 Translational Neurogenomics Group 60 Mucosal Immunology Group 53 The interplay between environmental and Prevention of allergy development in neonates genetic risk factors in the aetiology of by manipulating the microbiome 53 substance use disorders 60 Influence of early life parasitic infection on Integrating genomic data to characterise infant gut microbiome 53 inherited risk factors for mental health disorders 61 Hookworm-derived polypeptides for the Genetic Epidemiology Group 62 treatment of chronic diseases 53 Dissecting the genetic basis of clinical Respiratory Immunology Group 54 heterogeneity and differences in treatment response in patients with depression 62 Insights into the influence of maternal diet on the severity of infant viral bronchiolitis 54 Genetic and epidemiological studies of Parkinson’s disease 63 Microbiome and neonatal immune development in early life 54 Identifying individuals at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease 63 Eicosanoids